The Senate Should Censure Trump

It’s been done once before, against Andrew Jackson. Trump has disgraced the office of the presidency, so it’s time to do it again.

April 5, 2017

President Donald Trump at the GOP retreat in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 2017. (AP Photo / Matt Rourke)

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If you are sick of President Trump’s crackpot tweets and libelous falsehoods, consider instead the small-d democratic possibilities inherent in his presidency. Yes, Trump’s cabinet appointees have discretionary powers that can do grave damage to our society, not to mention the planet. Yes, by freakish happenstance, an unstable character with irresponsible impulses has been put in charge of the national government. 1

But Trump is not in charge of us. People all over know this and are putting themselves in motion. The ferment is about more than the marches and banners. People are beginning to see themselves as active agents in the legislative battles, entitled to be heard because they are citizens. Does that sound corny? Yes some of us are corny optimists.2

The Trump presidency has become an epic opportunity for small-d democratic revival and reform. Instead of passive spectators, people must push back hard and develop ways to become active participants in the legislative action. They can reclaim their voice and intrude on government decision-making, whether or not party professionals wish to hear from them. Both parties have become comfortable and complacent with a hollow democracy, in which half of the citizenry doesn’t bother to vote. 3

He’s misled the American people, damaged the prestige of the nation, and endangered our national security.

So how can the people talk back to Donald Trump? By proposing that the Senate adopt a resolution of censure officially denouncing Trump for his flagrantly fraudulent claims and, even worse, his unconstitutional behavior as president. The list of potential charges is robust. He and his family are blatantly in violation of the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits presidents from drawing business benefits from foreign interests. Trump also routinely falsifies official reporting to his own administration. Think of official censure as the highbrow answer to Trump tweets.4

A veteran government lawyer (and old friend) suggested this model for a censure resolution: “Resolved, that President Donald Trump, by deliberately and without any evidence accusing former president Barack Obama of criminal conduct, has disgraced his office, misled the American people, damaged the prestige of the nation, and endangered our national security.” 5

If Republicans decide to block the resolution, they might be censured themselves in the next election.

Censure is not impeachment but merely an expression of disapproval by one’s political peers. But the political debate, win or lose, could become a potent teaching opportunity for serious politicians and activists. If Republicans decide to block the resolution, they might be censured themselves in the next election.6

Our narcissistic president would probably go nuts. He is obsessed with his critics and rightly feels vulnerable because of his own shallow ignorance of governing politics. Even if the censure vote fails, there will be numerous other issues to consider. Examining Trump’s tenure issue by issue in this focused way should encourage the media to provide deeper understanding of how government actually works. People are smarter than the pundits realize.7

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People may ask: Why haven’t we heard about the censure option before? Because the device was used once, then put aside, though never repealed. Only one US president was ever censured by Senate resolution—Andrew Jackson, in 1834. Jackson, as it happens, is a personal hero of Donald Trump; the president recently laid a wreath on Jackson’s tomb in Nashville, Tennessee.8

The two presidents share some of the same rough-hewn qualities and vile attitudes on race. Both were champions of the common folk (or pretended to be) and brutally indifferent to racial minorities. Both were contemptuous of judges and judicial power. When Chief Justice Marshall ruled against President Jackson’s forced removal of the Cherokees from their homelands in 1830, Jackson sneered, “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.”9

Sounds like something Trump might have said about Muslims. This is an odd historical symmetry—we can give it renewed meaning by making Trump, after Jackson, only the second US president to be formally censured by the Senate.10

OK. After Trump is censured, censure the entire Republican Party in both Houses. Turn out to vote in 2018 and send Ryan, McConnell, Cotton, Nunes and the entire bunch of these political terrorists packing. They have become a vile and anti-patriotic enclave of anti-American thug-like ideologues. The Democrats are WEAK. What in hell have we gotten into with these weaklings? One side wants to rip our Republic asunder while the other side sits on the sidelines wringing their collective hands. What a total, disgusting national disgrace this has become!

(0)(0)

Susan Bentonsays:

April 6, 2017 at 7:52 pm

Well, I think all Republicans in Congress should be indicted as accessories to Treason along with
Sessions, Flynn, Bannon, Tillerson,
and Preibus. (am I missing anyone?)
In lieu of that or while we wait for it, censure might serve as an appropriate formal message, but it
probably won't fly and might result
in retaliation. (because no one has ever accused Trump of easily letting
go of perceived criticism)

(0)(0)

Robert Andrewssays:

April 6, 2017 at 2:38 pm

It would most likely be a total waste of time right now. You would not see more then a handful of Democrats get behind a censure. A vast majority of the DNC would have to get involved to give it weight, otherwise it could come across as just a couple of flakes wasting everybody's time. Right now the DNC is in whine mode instead of action.

(0)(1)

Julie Stroevesays:

April 6, 2017 at 1:55 pm

Why McConnell and his goons aren't all over this guy Trump is beyond me...note how easily they silence a female Senator. Last month Ezra Klein (I think) called for Congressional involvement and still nothing.

(2)(0)

Marjorie Wherleysays:

April 6, 2017 at 1:18 pm

Well, even introducing a resolution for censure would have some effect, even though it would be voted down. I would hope it wouldn't be limited to a single episode of bizarre behavior but perhaps a pattern. Anyway, we're fighting these fascists on many fronts and a censure resolution could be one more unsuccessful but meaningful tactic.

(4)(0)

000262675says:

April 6, 2017 at 3:11 am

Mr. Greider should write about what is actually happening in Washington rather than give us a description of his wish-fulfilng dreams.

(3)(5)

Curtis Carpentersays:

April 5, 2017 at 7:51 pm

Anyone who thinks McConnell and his party's Senate majority is going to censure Donald Trump is living in a fairyland. Maybe -- if the Republicans were to get a damned good thrashing in 2018 -- something like this could happen, but today? No chance.

(5)(0)

Carl Schwartzsays:

April 6, 2017 at 5:48 pm

McConnell is cool with treason, as is the GOP. The prefer keeping their money and power even if it is obtained through a de facto occupation by Putin and his oligarchs. Money is more important to this GOP (not to mention Putin and his oligarchs) than the nation, its voters, and its Constitution.

(1)(0)

Walter Pewensays:

April 5, 2017 at 6:57 pm

We have heard about censure quite a bit. Judging from one of Mr. Greider's recent columns here, which I labeled as somewhat sick (not without some support) I'm afraid to say Greider is living in some other universe than most of us, and I say it regretfully. I used to like his writing.

(1)(3)

Walter Pewensays:

April 5, 2017 at 7:00 pm

The column I refer to was "Is Our President Bonkers" by William Greider published in March 2017. It was, quite frankly, weird.
And as an aside, censure is not what's on most people's mind as a remedy for the madness that has descended upon the country.